Brick is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery thriller film written, edited, and directed by Rian Johnson in his directorial debut, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Brendan Frye, a high school student who enlists the help of his friend Brain to investigate the disappearance and murder of his ex-girlfriend Emily Kostich. With the help of Laura Dannon, an upper-class girl with ties to the local drug kingpin, Brendan navigates a complex web of clues and suspects to uncover the truth behind Emily's death.